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By Scott Roblin

Staying the Course

Tigers rally from three-goal deficit to stun Pats in pre-season play

Sep 7, 2019 | 10:34 PM

REGINA, SK – Through nine minutes of action, Garin Bjorklund and the Medicine Hat Tigers looked lost against the Regina Pats on Saturday night.

Many coaches would choose to pull a young netminder after allowing three goals in less than half a period, but Tigers bench boss Willie Desjardins chose to keep Bjorklund in and it was a decision that paid dividends.

Bjorklund shut the door over the final 51 minutes of Saturday’s pre-season contest in the ‘Queen City’ to help the Tigers come back against the Pats 4-3 for their first exhibition win of the year.

Medicine Hat’s first road game of the year started poorly to say the least, with Ty Kolle scoring the night’s first goal just 56 seconds into the contest.

That was followed up by Pats goals by Austin Pratt and Cole Dubinsky to give Regina a commanding 3-0 lead with 8:47 gone in the first period.

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The Tigers would fire 17 shots on Regina netminder Matthew Pesenti over the opening 20 minutes, but would still trail by three goals at the intermission.

Caleb Willms was able to break through for Medicine Hat 2:37 into the second period, before Tigers blueliner Ryan Watson potted his first of the pre-season late in the frame to make it a one goal game.

Newly minted assistant captain Tyler Preziuso cashed in later with an unassisted marker four minutes into the third period to tie the game at 3-3.

A high sticking infraction levied against Regina’s Tyson Feist would prove costly, as Logan Christensen stepped up as hero for Medicine Hat with a power play goal with 3:40 remaining on the clock.

After his rough start to the game, Bjorklund registered his first pre-season win of the year with 26 saves on 29 shots against.

Improving to a 1-1 mark in exhibition play this week, the Tigers continue their pre-season tune-ups on Friday night with a road game in Red Deer.